‘Timewarp’ Porsche Speedster Offered

Following a debut in South Carolina last Fall, Auctions America returns to the Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival and Concours d’Elegance, November 5. A small event by Auctions America standards — entries to the auction were capped to 120 motor cars — the sale at the Westin Hilton Head Island Resort will close the company’s 2016 auction calendar.

Attractions for this year’s sale include a pair of Porsches from two different eras: a ‘barnfind’ Porsche 356A 1600 Speedster, recently uncovered after more than 40 years in storage, along with one of the lowest mileage Carrera GTs on the planet.

“We’re thrilled to be returning to South Carolina and to be working with the team at the Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival once again,” commented Donnie Gould, President, Auctions America. “The Motoring Festival is definitely making its mark on the global collector car calendar, and we’re proud to be part of the fun. To complement the event, we’re taking our roster of cars to the next level; many haven’t been offered publicly for some time, setting the scene for a truly exciting sale.”

The 1957 Porsche 356A 1600 Speedster recently surfaced from a Chicago-area garage over 40 years after it was first parked. Finished in Aquamarine Blue Metallic with a Beige Leatherette interior, the Porsche was completed in March 1957 with optional USA bumpers, sealed beam headlights and Coupe seats. It was purchased by its first owner, Mr. John Casper that June, remaining in his ownership for the following 59 years. While in his care, it is reported that Mr. Casper actively used and enjoyed the Porsche, and was often sighted driving it to various Porsche Club of America events — that is, up until 1975 when, no longer able to drive, he parked it in a secure private garage. Sadly, Mr. Casper passed away some five years ago, with the Speedster remaining tucked away in the same garage until it passed onto his lifelong friend earlier this summer. Recently emerging from storage, the well-preserved Speedster comes to auction accompanied by its original owner’s manual, spare tire and jack (Est. $200,000 – $250,000).

“This timewarp Porsche 356 is a true gem,” said Gould. “As more Porsche Speedsters are found and restored, it is becoming nearly impossible to find such an original car, let alone one that comes from almost six decades in single-ownership. With collectors still drawn to highly original, unmolested cars, we expect it will attract plenty of interest when it crosses the podium in November.”

Representing a whole different era of Porsche design comes the Carrera GT. In total, 1,270 examples were built, with 604 finding their new homes in North America. The example on offer is one of those. Delivered new to Ohio, it has remained in single-ownership and is believed to be the lowest mileage, privately owned Carrera GT on the planet, showing 24 delivery miles on its odometer (Est. $850,000 – $950,000).